Car-coupler-operating device



Feb. 11, 1930. c, w, NICHOLAS I 1,746,601

CAR COUPLER OPERATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1929 Fty. 2

[flue flfor': Charles W Nicholas Patented F eb. 11, 1930 menu;

UNITED STATES ATENT. OFFiCE CHARLES W. NICHOLAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGITOR TO "UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE CAR.COUPLER-OPERATING DEVICE Application filedJanuary 26, 1929.

The invention relates to devices for oper ating railway carcouplers, andmore particularly, to the relation between the operating rod of such adevice and the connector per part of this connector forms asemi-circular ,open hook pro ecting toward the outer side of the eye andaway from the car so as to permit the coupler to move abnormally forwardwithout binding the connector in the eye of the crank. The extremity ofthis hook is provided with an enlarged head so that the connector mustbe threaded into the eye of the crank of the operating rod by insertingthe lower portion of the connector through the eye. The lower end of theconnector is. formed into a helical or spiral shaped open loop forengagement with the eyeof the coupler lock lifter.

The object of my invention is to so form r the connector and the eye ofthe operating rod that the relation between the two is such that theconnector cannot be assembled with the operating rod with the hookprojecting in any other position than projecting away from the car, ortoward the outside of the eye, because when the connector is assembledin the operating rod with the hook projecting toward the car, a slightforward movement of the coupler causes the extremity of the hook toengage the crank of the operating rod and thereby restrict. the forwardmovement of the coupler. Of course, owing to great force, which causesthe coupler to move forward, its movement is not actually restricted butrather the connector or the operating rod is bent or twisted so as toseriously aifect their proper operation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1. shows a typical application of my device to a railway car.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the Serial No. 335,187.

ey(e1 in the end of the crank of the operating ro Figs. 3 and l show theconnector. 1

Figs. 5 and 6 show the relation of the connector and the eye of theoperating rod in different positions.

In the drawings the usual parts of the car are shown, such as end wall1; buffing block 2; coupler 3; coupler lock lifter 4;; operating rod 5;bracket 6; handle 7 crank 8; crank eye 9 and connector 10. The connectorcomprises a shank 11 having at its upper end a hook l2 and head 13, andat its lower end a spiral or helical open hook 14, the form andfunctions of which have been heretofore described.

In order to assure proper assemblage of the connector 10 with the crankeye 9 I provide a slot or groove 15 in the crank eye for reception of alaterally extending projection 17 positioned on the shank of theconnector. When the connector is properly inserted in the eye of thecrank arm, that is, with the up per hook 12 projecting away from thecar, or toward the outer side 18 of the eye 9, the projection 17 slidesthrough the groove 15, as

shown in Fig. 6, and permits the complete insertion of the connectorthrough the crank eye. If, however, an attempt is made to improperlyengage the connector with the crank eye. the projection interferes withthe opposite wall 19 of the crank eye, as shown in Fig. 5, thuspreventing the connector from being inserted in the eye of the crankeye. The workman then realizes his mistake and withdraws the connectorand inserts it through the eye in the proper way.

The groove may be positioned in any part of the crank eye and theprojection placed in any corresponding desired position on the connectorand still come within the scope of the invention.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of theinvention, though it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as itis obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of theclaims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

1. In an operating device for a railway car coupler, the combination ofan operating rod provided with a vertically disposed eye having agroove, a connector comprisin a substantially vertical shank arranged orslidable and non-rotative movement through said eye, a semi-circularhook at the upper end of said shank having an enlargement at itsextremity, and a helical open loop at the lower end of the shank forengagement with an eye of a coupler lock lifter, said shank alsoprovided with a laterally extending projection arranged for passagethrough said groove, said groove and projection so positioned andproportioned that the connector can only be assembled with the operatingrod eye with the upper hook projecting toward the outer side of the eye.7

2. As an article of manufacture, a connector for a car coupler and. itsoperating rod comprising asubstantially vertical shank, a semi-circularhook at the upper end of said shank having an enlargement at its eX-tremity, and a helical open loop at the lower end of the shank, saidshank also provided with a laterally extending projection.

CHARLES W. NICHOLAS.

